The downpour over the last week has exposed a major recurring problem on city road. At least 20 places, huge potholes have surfaced, affecting free flow of traffic – during and after the rain. On Saturday night, roads around Majestic area were choc-a-bloc for more than two hours as large craters held up traffic movement on K.G. Road and Sangolli Rayanna Circle. The traffic snarl had a cascading effect on Mysore Road starting from Town Hall junction.
The situation on Bannerghatta Road too has gone bad to worse as many pot holes have surfaced after the rain exposing the poor quality of road work. In Mathikere, a portion of a road caved in at least three feet. “Rains and bad roads are major hindrance for traffic movement. Saturday night’s congestion was mainly due to potholes. When craters are formed on the road, we inform the civic authorities so that they are refilled at the earliest,” said Mr M.A. Saleem, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic).
The traffic police had also written to BBMP in the past to rectify the problem at Hosur Road-Bannerghatta Road junction where the road becomes non-motorable due to water-logging. Whenever it rains, knee-deep water is found at this junction, situated close to the line of marble shops, and traffic cannot move during the downpour. Traffic experts point out that poor quality of road construction and movement of heavy vehicles causes potholes. “There are roads in different parts of the world which last for many years. Why do we have to put up with potholes after every rain”, asked Prof M.N. Sreehari, an expert on traffic. He also pointed out that there are companies in Bengaluru which can fill potholes in minutes without causing any hindrance to traffic movement. “But the civic agencies must pick up the idea,” he noted.